German East African rupie

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German East African rupie
Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Rupie (German)
User(s) Flag of Tanganyika Tanganyika, Flag of Burundi Burundi, Flag of Rwanda Rwanda
Subunit
1/100 Heller
Coins ½, 1, 5, 10, 20 Heller, ¼, ½, 1, 2 Rupien
Banknotes 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 500 Rupien
Central bank Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The Rupie was the currency of German East Africa between 1890 and 1916, continuing to circulate in Tanganyika until 1920.

Contents

[edit] History

The Rupie was initially equivalent to the Indian rupee. Until 1904, it was subdivided into 64 Pesa (equivalent to the Indian pice or paisa). The currency was decimalized on 28 February 1904, with 1 Rupie = 100 Heller. At the same time, a fixed exchange rate of 15 Rupien = 20 German Mark was established.

In 1915 and 1916, a large series of emergency issues of paper money were issued. 1916 also saw a final issue of coins including gold 15 Rupien coins which contained an equivalent amount of gold to 15 German Mark. Later in 1916, German East Africa was occupied by British and Belgian forces. In Tanganyika, the Rupie circulated alongside the East African rupee (to which it was equal) until 1920, when both were replaced by the East African florin at par. In Burundi and Rwanda, the Belgian Congolese franc replaced the Rupie in 1916.

[edit] Coins

In 1890, copper 1 Pesa and silver 1 Rupie coins were introduced, followed the next year by silver ¼ and ½ Rupie and in 1893 by silver 2 Rupien coins. The silver coins were minted to the same standard as the Indian rupee.

As a consequence of decimalization, bronze ½ and 1 Heller were introduced in 1904, followed by bronze 5 Heller and holed, cupro-nickel 10 Heller in 1908. In 1913, holed, cupro-nickel 5 Heller were introduced. In 1916, crude, brass 5 and 20 Heller coins were issued, together with the gold 15 Rupien mentioned above.

[edit] Banknotes

In 1905, the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank introduced notes for 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Rupien. Between 1915 and 1917, emergency notes were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 200 Rupien.

Banknote Obverse Reverse
5 Rupien (1905) [1] [2]
10 Rupien (1905) [3] [4]
50 Rupien (1905) [5] [6]
100 Rupien (1905) [7] [8]
1 Rupie (1915) [9] [10]
5 Rupie (1916) [11] [12]
10 Rupie (1917) [13] [14]
20 Rupie (1917) [15] [16]
50 Rupie (1915) [17] [18]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by:
Indian rupee
Ratio: at par		 Currency of German East Africa
(Tanganyika, Burundi, Rwanda)
1890 – 1916 in Burundi and Rwanda, 1920 in Tanganyika
Note: German East Africa was occupied by British and Belgian forces in 1916		 Succeeded by:
East African florin
Location: Tanganyika
Reason: given to United Kingdom by Treaty of Versailles
Ratio: at par
Succeeded by:
Belgian Congolese franc
Location: Burundi, Rwanda
Reason: given to Belgium by Treaty of Versailles
v • d • e
Currencies named rupee or similar
Circulating
Indian rupee (रुपया) · Indonesian rupiah · Maldivian rufiyaa (ދިވެހި ރުފިޔ) · Mauritian rupee (roupie) · Nepalese rupee (रूपैयाँ) · Pakistani rupee (روپي) · Seychellois rupee (roupi, roupie) · Sri Lankan rupee (ரூபாய்)
Obsolete
Fictional
See also
History of the rupee · Bhutanese ngultrum, pegged to the Indian Rupee